AS 2014 gets underway there will no doubt be an incredible number of people doing something remarkable to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. We have already outlined in the News the remarkable project to document the lives and deaths of the men from the parish who fell in the ‘war to end all wars’.

And the Looking Back pages in the weeks to come will be taking a closer look at what has been uncovered in volunteers’ research.

Keen historian Lyn Crisp in Chideock did something of the same type of thing two years ago and the results are on the community website chideockand seatown.co.uk But for those not so keen on surfing the internet Mrs Crisp has let us reveal to readers some of the information she found about those killed in action. The first is: Lance Corporal Henry Hoskins 5th Battlion, Dorsetshire Regiment died August 7, 1915 aged 23 Henry Hoskins was born in 1892 in Netherbury.

He was the son of George Legg Hoskins, born 1857 in Chideock and Maria Hoskins (nee Shute) who was born in 1853 in Chardstock, Devon.

In the 1901 census the family lived in West Milton, Poorstock, Dorset and George Hoskins occupation was ‘Inn Keeper’ Own Account.

In the 1911 census George Hoskins occupation is listed as farmer and Henry is listed as a farm helper. Henry had four brothers and two sisters.

Henry enlisted at Wareham, Dorset on August 16, 1914 aged 21 years nine months and his occupation was listed as dairyman.

He was 5ft 6in, had brown eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. He was Church of England.

It is understood that Henry’s battalion sailed from Liverpool on July 3, 1915. They called at Mudros on July 10, Imbros on July 23 and arrived off Suvla Bay on August 6, 1915. Henry was killed on Beach A, Suvla Bay the next day, August 7, 1915.

Henry is remembered on the gravestone of his mother and father in the churchyard of St Giles in Chideock.

His war medals and documents went to his mother Maria Hoskins of 3 Hope Terrace, Chideock.

Henry Hoskins is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey, The Chideock War Memorial and The Dorset Regiment Gallipoli Roll of Honour.

Following these walked Mr EA Hansford (deceased’s late employer), and a number of his late fellow workmen, and then came a large number of men representing all phases of life in the village and neighbourhood, including ex-chief officer of coastguards T Meyers, wearing his uniform.

It would be impossible to name these or the hundreds of other people who attended, but practically the whole village were present, as well as a number from Bridport and other places in the locality, to pay their last tribute to him who had given up his life for the safety of the hearths and homes of England.

PC Drake was on duty in the village. When the procession reached the outside of the church and the firing party lined the road and rested on their reversed arms with heads bowed as the coffin and mourners passed into the churchyard.

Here the cortege was met by the vicar, (Rev C Urquart), the Rev Canon W Jacob (formerly Vicar of Lyme Regis, and now of Warminster), Rev EHH Lee (Vicar of Whitchurch Canonicorum), Captain Molineux and Mr. Edwin Legg (church wardens), carrying their official staves, and the full surpliced choir, who headed the procession into the church, where the body was rested during the first part of the impressive burial service.

This was conducted by the vicar and Canon Jacob read the lesson from I Cor, xv20. Psalm 39 was chanted, ‘Now the Labourer’s Task is O’er’ sung and as the body was being taken out of the church for interment, Miss Legg who presided at the organ played ‘O Rest in the Lord’. There was not nearly enough room in the church for all who attended the obsequies and hundreds of people attended around the grave as the body was laid in its last resting place in a peacefully secluded spot beneath the noble old tower – a contrast from the dreadful turmoil of war in which the deceased soldier had so recently been engaged. The grave had been lined with flowers and ferns by Miss Forsey and Mrs Jim Tuck, and was surrounded by a mass of beautiful flowers conveyed to the churchyard in carriages and which had been sent from relatives and friends as tangible expressions of sorrow and sympathy. The vicar read the committal prayers, and after the Grace the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ was sung, Then came the most impressive part of the service.

The firing party which had been drawn up around the grave, fixed their bayonets, and at the word of command fired three volleys, and as the ribbons of smoke trailed heavenwards from the rifles the band played a few bars of the Dead March. Last of all came the thrilling and inspiring notes of the Last Post, sounded by Bugler Thorpe, of the 9th Hants, and after another brief silence, the soldiers were marched off, and the vast crowds had a last look at the coffin before slowly dispersing, the schoolchildren walking past the grave and dropping in bunches of flowers upon the body. The band played a lively air as they marched away from the graveyard.

After the ceremony the ringers rang a muffled peal on the bells, followed by a full peal.

Three beautiful floral tokens were placed on the coffin, a harp with a broken string bearing the inscription ‘In ever loving memory of our dear adopted son Leonard, from his heart broken Aunt and Uncle, J & E Sansom: In health and strength he left his home, Not thinking death was near, It pleased the Lord to take him home, And at his side appear.

He sacrificed his life for King and Country’.

A pierced heart bore the inscription ‘to my darling Len from his loving and dear sweetheart Min’ and the other design was a golden crown, which bore the inscription ‘To my dear Leonard from little Dorothy’. A massive and handsome wreath, subscribed to by the parishioners was also sent, a printed card attached bearing the words ‘In Loving Memory and with Deepest Sympathy from the parishioners of Chideock – ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.

The teachers and children of the Council School sent a wreath ‘In affectionate Remembrance’ and another bore the inscription ‘In sorrowing memory of a good lad from the employees and employer with whom he worked’.

Mr and Mrs Sansom and Miss Hawker desire, through the columns of The Bridport News, to thank their numerous friends for sympathy extended to them in their sorrow and also for flowers sent.

Parishioners pay respect to the fallen

OTHERS from the parish died.

This is the transcript of the Bridport News second edition of Friday, September 17, 1915.

WOUNDED: Official intimation has been received by Mr & Mrs Samways, of this village, that their son Stephen, a private in the 5th Dorset Regt, has been wounded in action in the Gallipoli peninsula.

Private Samways worked with Private Grinter (whose death from wounds we record this week) for Mr EA Hansford, butcher, Bridport.

They joined the 5th Dorsets together and went out to the Dardanelles, and it was in the same action and on the same day that they were wounded.

The second of Chideock’s soldiers to lay down his life for his country is Pte Robert Leonard Grinter, of the 5th Dorset Regiment who died on Friday at Netley Hospital, Southampton, from wounds received in action at the Dardanelles, on August 21st.

Private Grinter, who before the war resided with Mr and Mrs J Sansom, of this village, joined the 5th Dorsets soon after the outbreak of hostilities and accompanied his regiment to the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Mr and Mrs Samson had previously been intimated of his having been wounded and that he was being conveyed to England.

Hopes were entertained that his wounds were not of a serious nature, but to the grief of his many friends the sad news of his death was received on Friday evening the day following his admission to hospital.

His age was 20.

Of a bright and cheery nature, he was well known and liked by many friends in the village, as well as in Bridport, where for some time he worked for Mr EA Hansford, butcher of East Street.

The body was conveyed by rail to Bridport on Monday and was taken to Chideock, where the funeral took place with military honours yesterday (Thursday afternoon).

The whole village was in mourning for the loss it has sustained, and the funeral ceremony was deeply impressive, every portion being carried out with the utmost reverence.

Flags flew at half mast over the church and at various houses, while blinds were drawn throughout the village as a last token of respect.

The cortege left Mr and Mrs Sansom’s residence shortly before three o'clock, and as the solemn and imposing procession passed, slowly through the village there were manifestations of sincere respect and sorrow on every side. The procession was formed in the following order: A detachment of the 9th Hants (cyclists), who formed the firing party, walking with slow step and reversed arms.

The detachment was in charge of Col-Sergt Padwick, the firing party being in command of Sergeant Loveridge. Then followed the band of the Dorset Battery, RFA, under the Bandmaster JJ Shephard playing the mournful strains of the ‘Dead March’ in Saul. The drum and the side drum were draped in black.

The coffin followed. Drawn on a wheeled bier, and borne by six members of the 9th Hants.

The coffin was covered with the Union Flag, on which were laid the deceased’s hat, belt and bayonet.